ETF DRIP Calculator
Calculate how dividend reinvestment grows your ETF portfolio over time
Projected Results
What is an ETF DRIP Calculator?
A Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) Calculator shows how reinvesting dividends accelerates ETF growth. This tool helps investors visualise:
✅ Compound growth from reinvested dividends
✅ Impact of regular contributions
✅ Price appreciation effects
✅ Total return projections
How to Use ETF DRIP Calculator (Step-by-Step)
- Enter Initial Investment
- Example: “$10,000 in VOO ETF”
- Add Monthly Contributions
- Example: “$500/month” to dollar-cost average
- Set Dividend Yield
- Most ETFs yield 1-4% (e.g., 1.5% for VOO)
- Select Dividend Frequency
- Quarterly (most common), monthly, or annually
- Input Growth Rate
- Historical S&P 500 average: ~7% annually
- Choose Time Horizon
- Long-term results improve with 10+ years
- View Projections
- See total dividends earned, final portfolio value, and growth chart
Why DRIP Matters for ETF Investors
1. Compound Growth Accelerates Returns
Reinvested dividends buy more shares, which generate more dividends, creating a snowball effect.
Example:
- $10,000 in SCHD (3.5% yield)
- With DRIP: $24,600 in 10 years
- Without DRIP: $19,700 (assuming 7% growth)
2. Mitigates Market Volatility
Automatic reinvestment buys shares at various prices, lowering average cost.
3. Effortless Wealth Building
“Set and forget” strategy is ideal for retirement accounts (Roth IRA, 401k).
Key Metrics This Calculator Provides
Metric | Why It Matters |
---|---|
Total Invested | Annualised ROI including dividends |
Tracks the capital you contributed | Shows passive income generated |
Price Appreciation | Capital gains from ETF growth |
Final Portfolio Value | Projected worth with DRIP |
Total Return | Annualized ROI including dividends |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does DRIP work better for ETFs or stocks?
- ETFs are ideal because they’re diversified and have lower volatility than individual stocks.
- How often should I check my DRIP progress?
- Annually. Frequent monitoring leads to emotional decisions.
- Can I automate DRIP with any broker?
- Yes! Most platforms (Fidelity, Vanguard) offer automatic reinvestment.
- What’s the best dividend frequency for compounding?
- Monthly > Quarterly > Annually (but the difference is minimal long-term).